Komen Puget Sound awards more than $600,000 to local breast health providers

Susan G. Komen Puget Sound has awarded $600,000in new grants to six nonprofits working to end disparities in access to breast cancer screenings and breast health care. The 2018-19 local grant recipients are:

Latino Community Fund – $35,000

Through the Women’s Health Program, this funding provides community outreach to 2500 medically underserved persons who are unaware, unable or unwilling to access health screenings or preventive services through mainstream clinical resources. Early cancer detection education, clinical breast exams and mammograms will be provided to low-income priority populations: Hispanic, LGBTQ and new immigrants through ten mobile screening events.

International Community Health Services (ICHS) – $65,000

Through the Breast Health Outreach, Prevention and Education Program, ICHSprovides breast health education and early detection services to low-income, limited English proficient members of King County’s Pacific Islander, Latina, East African, and Asian Indian communities. Community health workers will organize support groups and 15 community-based presentations around breast health, and provide 1,000 breast health screenings through clinics and mobile mammography in partnership with Swedish Mobile Mammography Services.

The Native Women’s Wellness Program provides breast health outreach, education, screening and support to women in rural tribal communities in Southwest Washington who rarely or never have been screened for breast cancer. Five tribal patient navigators will increase breast health screenings by 100 new patients. A quality assurance contractor will work closely with tribal clinics, medical providers and patient navigators to accomplish goals.

Through the Komen Patient Assistance Fund, Cancer Lifeline administers funds to provide financial assistance and support for more than 400 low-income patients while they are in treatment for breast cancer. The patients each receive $350 to assist with expenses such as utilities, housing, food, health, medical supplies, transportation and childcare.

Washington State Department of Health – $200,000

Funding to the Washington State Breast, Cervical, and Colon Health Program provides cancer screenings, mammograms and diagnostics to more than 4,000 low-income, uninsured or underinsured clients, about 35 of whom will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Through patient navigation, the program also assists diagnosed clients in transitioning to the Medicaid Treatment Program, and expands services to symptomatic women ages 18-39, symptomatic men ages 18 and older, and women living up to 300 percent of the federal poverty line.

Komen Puget Sound evaluates and selects grantees through an independent review process. The grants were presented at the organization’s annual Impact Celebration at the Museum of History and Industry on April 24.

Seventy-five percent of net funds raised through Komen Puget Sound and its events – such as Race for the Cure this June 3 – provide for community grants and services such as free mammograms, patient navigation and breast cancer treatment support. The remaining 25 percent of funds go to breast cancer research.